Guinness ‘Got Balls?’ pool competition heating up

The 2016 Guinness ‘Got Balls?’ pool competition continues to shoot out a lot of surprises and as a result, the second round of competition recorded first time participant Andy Lynch as the winner.{{more}}

Lynch, an employee of OT Tyre Limited and a resident of Layou, played his way into last Friday’s second round final, when he defeated police officer Sigmund Allen, two games to one. The games were played at Nani Billingy’s Bar in Pembroke/Buccament.

Lynch, a virtual unknown on the pool scene here, shot an exciting final encounter, leaving Allen with all his balls on the table in the first game.

The second game was won by Allen, but Lynch rebounded in the last game of the best of three encounter, beating Allen and claiming the EC$500 prize money.

Lynch, who revealed that he has been playing pool since he was 10 years old, commented, “I feel nice to win the $500 and I am looking forward to the finals on March 12.”

He said that this is the first time that he has entered a pool tournament and he is glad he did, as he emerged victorious from a group of some 44 players.

Commenting after losing to Lynch in the final game, Allen praised the pool tournament, noting, “I think it helps enhance my skills and it allows players to come together and challenge one another to see who is the best at the game. I think it is a very good thing and if they (St Vincent Brewery Limited) do it every year, I think more people will play.”

He said he has been a pool player since he was a boy.

The first round of the competition, which was held at the Police Canteen in Kingstown on Friday, January 15, was won by Ozzie St Hillaire, who beat Cosmos Hackshaw 2-0.

The third leg of the competition which uses the best of three elimination process, will take place at the Tunnel View Bar in Byera this Friday, January 29. Registration takes place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and persons must buy three Guinness stouts to register.

The other legs are at Over the River Bar in Sandy Bay on Friday, February 5; Big City Life Bar in Richland Park on Friday, February 12; Bequia on Saturday, February 20; Azard St Hill in Troumaca on Saturday, February 27 and Tree House Bar in Arnos Vale on Saturday, March 5, with the grand finale on Saturday, March 12, at a venue to be decided on.

The tournament’s supervisor is Cleve ‘Skip’ McKenzie, while last Friday’s prize money was handed over by trade marketing coordinator at the Brewery Lamont Medica.